"Why are you making that face?"
Rosalyne looked at Venti's delighted expression, feeling puzzled.
"Hmph, this is exactly what he wants, isn't it…?"Ei snorted coldly.
"As he wants?"Rosalyne didn't understand what Ei meant.
Jingce glanced at Venti and said calmly:
"Back then, he used to brag to us."
"'Mondstadt is the land of freedom because I don't want to fulfill a god's duties.'"
"'Look at all of you, busy because of your divine responsibilities.'"
"'Unlike me, I'm carefree and idle.'"
"'Even so, I'm still deeply loved by my people—they even built a cathedral for me. Jealous?'"
"If he gives his power to Sasayuri, he can conveniently push his responsibilities as a god onto her."
Ei said, "That was thousands of years ago…"
Venti immediately looked aggrieved."Now that Lord Venti has returned, I've decided to turn over a new leaf and properly manage Mondstadt!"
"Then why are you so happy about giving away your power?"Ei asked mockingly. "Isn't this just you trying to push your responsibilities onto Sasayuri? Let me tell you—she belongs to Inazuma. She won't help you manage Mondstadt."
"Lord Venti~"
Venti quickly grabbed Lin Mo's hand and said pitifully:"If I give my power to you, then if Mondstadt is ever in trouble, you wouldn't just ignore it, right?"
"You're already a powerful wind spirit. Your strength isn't lacking,"Lin Mo shrugged."I never asked you to give your power to me. Keep it yourself and use it to protect Mondstadt."
"Th-That won't do~!"
"This is my compensation to Rosalyne!"
Venti spoke righteously, as if afraid Lin Mo would refuse, tightly holding onto his hand.
The next moment, glowing streams of light flowed from Venti's hand into Lin Mo's body.
Very quickly, Lin Mo could feel his strength increasing, even gaining control over the Anemo element.
"All done~! Now I'm a wind god who has lost my Archon core."
Venti happily patted Lin Mo's shoulder:"From now on, you and I will share the responsibility of protecting Mondstadt!"
"…Feels like I've been tricked…"
Rosalyne looked at Venti with dissatisfaction.
But the request had been hers.And Venti had fulfilled it.
So she couldn't really say anything.
"Hehe~ Rosalyne, let's write off the past!"
Venti grinned."You can't turn around and bully me again now!"
"Fine, fine…"
Rosalyne looked rather reluctant.
"…Didn't expect you've become like me now."
At that moment, Zhongli's voice reached them.
When Ei saw Zhongli, she immediately sensed a familiar aura—and also noticed that his power had diminished greatly.
She frowned."The former God of War… Morax. I didn't expect even you would be led astray by Barbatos."
"I… have high expectations for Lin Mo,"Zhongli replied simply, offering no further explanation.
But the intent to step back from responsibility was obvious.
"Papa~ what are you all talking about?"
Ei: "Papa!?"Yoimiya: "Lin Mo's… daughter? Why does she feel somewhat familiar?"Yae Miko: "Such a cute child—come, let big sister hold you!"Kitsune Saiguu: "Sasayuri, I suggest you explain this clearly."Kamisato Ayaka: "She's… very cute… but for some reason… I feel a little sad…"
"Ahem…"
Lin Mo awkwardly held Klee's hand and forced a smile under everyone's gaze.
"Everyone, let me introduce—this is Klee, my daughter. Her mother is a witch of the elf race, my wife whom I met in Mondstadt—Alice."
The crowd hesitated, clearly having many questions.
Just as Kitsune Saiguu stepped forward to speak—
"Klee! You ran too fast—your backpack is still in the Serenitea Pot!"
Kun Jun came over, holding Klee's backpack."Father! This is Klee's bag."
Ei: ???Kitsune Saiguu: !Yae Miko: "Not as cute as Klee, but I sense a powerful aura from him."Kamisato Ayaka: "…I feel so tired…"
"Ahem, don't misunderstand…"
Lin Mo quickly pulled Kun Jun over and said with a wry smile:"This is the Geo Dragon King, Azhdaha, in human form as Kun Jun. He was adopted in Liyue."
"Qiqi~!"
"Don't run! There's still one more funeral rite today!"
At that moment, Hu Tao's voice came from behind the portal.
Along with it came a small, adorable zombie.
Qiqi rushed out silently, running straight toward Lin Mo.She grabbed his pant leg and hid behind him, nervously peeking at Hu Tao.
Seeing Qiqi hiding like that, Ei rubbed her forehead helplessly."How many children do you have? Just say it all at once."
"Ahem, she's really not my child. Her name is Qiqi. I saved her back when Liyue was in turmoil."
Qiqi softly added:"Lord Lin Mo… you're lying. Hu Tao still bullies me…"
"Hm?"
Lin Mo looked curiously at Hu Tao, who had just arrived with a mischievous smile.
"Hu Tao, hasn't Qiqi already been revived? Why are you still bothering her?"
"Guest Lin Mo, this isn't bullying~"
Hu Tao said seriously:"Physical death isn't the standard the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor uses. It's the soul. Her soul should have long gone to the place of origin and rest. I'm helping her!"
"Qiqi… wants to stay with Lord Lin Mo…""…doesn't want to go to the place of rest…"
"Alright, Hu Tao, stop troubling her,"Lin Mo said with a helpless smile."If you want to help Qiqi, you should guide her and fulfill her lingering wish, so she can willingly pass on."
"Forcing her away wouldn't make you a qualified director of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor."
"Oh… right…"
Hu Tao lowered her head, then looked at Qiqi with a sly smile:
"Qiqi~ what is your unfulfilled wish?"
Qiqi hesitated and softly replied:"Qiqi… wants to stay by Lord Lin Mo's side…"
Hearing that, Hu Tao immediately raised her plum-blossom eyes and looked at Lin Mo.
"H-Hey… what are you looking at? You're not planning to send me off too, are you…?"
--------
T/N:
You'll also get 5 extra chapters just for being a free member!
Access 40 chapters in advance on my Patreon : [email protected]/furinaimpact